Early Review of Turn to Darkness: A Novella (Offspring 5.6) by Jaime Rush

• Title: Turn to Darkness: A Novella
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Format: Paperback, 208 pages
• Publisher: Avon Impulse (October 9, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 006221814X
• ISBN-13: 978-0062218148

Author Website: http://www.jaimerush.com/
Notes: I got a free eBook copy of the book via Edelweiss from the publisher.

Twenty three years ago beings from another dimension, Surfacia, walked among us. They infiltrated the city of Las Vegas and were fruitful and multiplied. Now, years later, after a murder that held signs of being committed by one of their own, they're back in an attempt to clean up the mess that was left behind. They want to ensure that what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas and never gets out. This is one secret they want to make sure is dead and buried before they leave again. They're looking for their offspring and they'll leave no survivors.

Six years ago Shea Baker had a life altering experience of the bad variety which left her only a sliver of the person she'd once been. She'd been raped and no one seemed to care or believe her, not even her mom. She'd left home and was living on the streets when Tucker found her and took her in. That's when she first found out she wasn't fully human. She was something more. Her father had come from another dimension and she and others like her were the offspring of those beings who had crossed dimensions. That is how she'd inherited her ability to move objects with her mind. Shea wasn't the only one of their kind that Tuck had found, there were several others who had all ended up living together.  

Now, at age twenty two, she's turned her life around and owns a successful landscaping company. She's moved out and is attempting to stand on her own to feet and to get away from two of the men who were both vying for her attention. One she holds a mutual attraction for, while the other she feels nothing but friendship toward. Additionally a third, unknown man, is stalking her. When her stalker turns up dead, the police find a disturbing letter addressed to her which leads them to her door. The past is about to come back to haunt her in more ways than one. Luckily for her, history won't be repeating itself. But her stalker's murder will set off a series of events that will once again change her life leaving Shea and those like her fighting for their lives. 

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This was a great example of how a novella should be written. Usually I'm disappointed when I read novellas because the end seems rushed. Well, leave it to an author whose last name is Rush to not rush the ending. How ironic. *giggle* This one grabbed my attention from the first page and held it. There's plenty of action, drama and romance. It's definitely a novella worth buying.  

Shea Baker is wary of men. She dresses modestly in baggy shirts, baggy pants, and baseball caps in an attempt to stay under the male radar. Unfortunately, an accidental encounter with one of her former house mates made her go from a blip on his radar to the front and center of it. In Turn to Darkness, she'll be forced to come to grips with her past and the feelings she's experiencing for Greer. Additionally, she and her friends will end up on the radar of those from the other dimension. They don't want the population to know they exists, so they've sent a team to seek and destroy any and all of their offspring, hence the series name of Offspring.

Greer was a fun character. He's also one of the offspring of the men who came from Surfacia. He holds Darkness and decided long ago not let himself get emotionally attached to a woman because of it. He's sees Shea as someone whom he wouldn't have to hide his origins from and could build a lasting relationship with. I enjoyed watching him try to convince her to take a chance on him. I really loved the way he handled her when he found out what had happened to her in the past.

Why is the book entitled Turn to Darkness? Well, Darkness is a power, somewhat similar to, yet different from dark magic that some of those from Surfacia and their descendants can tap into. It allows individuals who possess it to be able to morph into black beasts of their choosing. They also can move around in a dark mist form not unlike a genie. If one is not careful, it can control the individual using it. Hence, I believe that is where the books name comes from. One of those who possess Darkness, will 'turn' to it.

Overall I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I've been wanting to try one of Jaime's books for a while and this was a great introduction to her Offspring series. I definitely will be reading more of her books. Ms. Rush created a fun and unique world for her characters. I'm interesting in finding out more about the workings of Darkness and the people of Surfacia. I look forward to finding out how Tucker came to know about his other dimension DNA, and how a group of individuals who possess that DNA but knew nothing of their fathers banded together. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of Series:

Please note that Bitten by Cupid is an anthology which contains a Offspring novella and The Darkness Within and Turn to Darkness are both novellas.